Obama's Aunt Zeituni Onyango in U.S. Illegally

If John McCain had a relative living in this country illegally, the Democrats and their mouthpieces in the lib media would flip out.

If John McCain had a half-brother living in a hut, they would go crazy.

But since it's Barack Obama, no problem. Nothing to see here. Move along.

These aren't the issues that matter. This is just dirty politics.

Of course, Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter is fair game. Palin's family matters, not to mention her clothes, are of critical importance. The American public must be informed.

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama's aunt, a Kenyan woman who has been quietly living in public housing in Boston, is in the United States illegally after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum four years ago, The Associated Press has learned.

Zeituni Onyango, 56, referred to as "Aunti Zeituni" in Obama's memoir, was instructed to leave the United States by a U.S. immigration judge who denied her asylum request, a person familiar with the matter told the AP late Friday. This person spoke on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to discuss Onyango's case.

...Onyango's refusal to leave the country would represent an administrative, non-criminal violation of U.S. immigration law, meaning such cases are handled outside the criminal court system. Estimates vary, but many experts believe there are more than 10 million such immigrants in the United States.

The AP could not reach Onyango immediately for comment. No one answered the telephone number listed in her name late Friday. It was unclear why her request for asylum was rejected in 2004.

Onyango is not a relative whom Obama has discussed in campaign appearances and, unlike Obama's father and grandmother, is not someone who has been part of the public discussion about his personal life.

This article from the Associated Press is awfully forgiving.

What difference does it make that Obama hasn't discussed "Aunti Zeituni" in campaign appearances? What difference does it make that she's not "someone who has been part of the public discussion about his personal life"?

That's irrelevant.

That didn't stop the lib media from ripping at Sarah Palin's family.

Obama has a relative in this country ILLEGALLY and living in public housing!

That's the issue, and it's relevant.

Obama said, "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Why doesn't he practice what he preaches, within his own family?

What's Obama's explanation for neglecting his family members?

I certainly don't hold any individual responsible for the actions of every relative.

BUT--

Zeituni Onyango isn't some person unknown to Obama. He writes about her in his book, Dreams from My Father.

I would like to know why the Democrat nominee for president of the United States hasn't addressed his aunt's immigration status. Why hasn't he shared some of his wealth with her? Where has the lib media been in terms of probing Obama on his half-brother George living in a hut?

I think someone needs to tell Obama that the government doesn't have to work as the middle man.

Individuals can choose to help others in need. They can give assistance directly, not via taxes and government programs.

This thing drips with hypocrisy.
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UPDATE: Obama says he didn't know aunt's illegal status

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Saturday he didn't know that one of his relatives was living in the United States illegally and believes the appropriate laws should be followed.

...She attended Obama's swearing-in to the U.S. Senate in 2004, but campaign officials said Obama provided no assistance in getting her a tourist visa and doesn't know the details of her stay. The campaign said he last heard from her about two years ago when she called saying she was in Boston, but he did not see her there.

...According to Federal Election Commission documents filed by the Obama campaign, Onyango has contributed $260 to Obama over a period of time. Under federal election law, only U.S. citizens or green-card holders are legally permitted to give money to campaigns. Onyango, who listed her employer as the Boston Housing Authority, gave in small increments to the Obama campaign. Her latest contribution was $5 on Sept. 19.

Onyango was at Obama's U.S. Senate swearing-in?

He last heard from her two years ago?

Obama has had contact with her relatively recently?

She's not someone from his distant past. That makes this all much worse.

Then there's the issue of the illegal campaign contributions.

First off, if one needs to be on public assistance, should one be donating to a political campaign?

Second, one can only imagine how much illegal money makes up Obama's $600+ million war chest.